Sk8man

Yeah I guess things have changed with the fish since I started stream fishing in 1955

Stream fish don't always swim with their mouths open facing the current...sometimes they come across the stream or even downstream to examine a bait. I don't believe there is a way to prove it as far as knowing for sure that the fish is actually seeing the hook but just as an example of the inference watch a sunfish, bluegill perch or even a walleye under the ice some time and closely observe what they do when even a small jig hook point is exposed. They will stop stare at it and circle around it or back up without biting - probably because it looks unnatural to them. Often they will "test" the presentation by bumping it with their nose if they do anything at all. If you are to bait it at the tip of the hook they will usually grab it...this suggests to me that fish dio in fact see the hook point and it looks foreign to them and they become wary of it. If a bait is spinning (as in suspended by a swivel snap) they often will avoid it as well. Fish can be far more cautious and maybe even "smarter" than we give them credit for. I'm not saying this is always the case bt something to be aware of as a possibility.

Not sure about how many "bears" would be caught that way but what I'm refering to is when watching fish in clear water bump or mouth the bait without actually ingesting it (such as sucking it in directly) they sometimes appear to be "testing" the bait and when the hook point is bare and they feel it they spit it. I've seen it with both browns and rainbows in the streams. When ice fishing perch will do it very frequently

Good one Ed

I think a main factor was that they were netted back then with large seins and sold (late 1800's and early 1900's) too.

Always cover the tip of the hook itself with a waxie or other etc. as it prevents the fish from seeing the hook and orients or focuses them specifically to the bait as well as reducing the hard feel of the hook while "mouthing"

WTG Johnny Once again.....perseverence pays off

Worth the trip to have it done right by Hank

Wes you have a PM

Wes - often it is not the groove that gets ya it is that the wire slips between the roller and side plate if the wire diameter allows it. It can happen with stainless wire and especially braid as well. You might want to check that as well as sometimes the little nut needs to be tightened or the side plate may be bent.

or crossbow

Neat bonding moment

I firmly believe it. After shooting them in the azz several times with a Red Ryder BB gun to keep them off my lawn and from eating up my shrubs etc. they now stand at the edge of my neighbors lawn just a tiny bit out of range and it is almost as though they know where the property line is They will also react to my turning of the knob of the kitchen door when they do happen to be on my property and scoot to his property immediately anticipating my actions. I kid you not. They are a bit smarter than most folks give them credit for.

You are very welcome. Good luck with it. The cape is a wonderful place to have a lot of fun fishing and otherwise

The folks at Blackbeards in Eastham on Route #6 can be very helpful

I think as long as you are discreet about it there shouldn't be a problem at least at Nickerson....the place is HUGE. Something else is that you would be close to fishing "options" as the bay side (e.g. out of Rock Harbor launch for instance) can be fishable even if the ocean side is too rough but you have either option quickly available to you.

I know it is a ways from Sandwich (e.g. further out on the Cape) and not right on the water but Nickerson State Park is a huge and pretty incredible camping area in Brewster and there are a number of launch sites nearby with access to good fishing and quickly trailerable.

I think it is worth mentioning that there seems to be a critical difference in Paul's work that differentiates him from many taxidermists and that is first and foremost he is an artist and has the eye of the artist with full attention to detail and this makes a huge difference in his work. It isn't something that is necessarily "learned" either and someone either has it or doesn't and it makes all the difference in the world whether painting, photography, or other related activity. His work is exquisite and very different from "run of the mill" taxidermy. (I wasn't paid to say this)

The spot although deep is probably the best that could have occurred in deep water as it is about the most popular jigging spot in the lake